Medical help for Liezl

$14,005
of $100,000 goal

Hello. If you’re viewing this page, thank you for taking the time to even consider helping. We have started this page on behalf of the Eternicks’ because they’re wonderful people, whom many love, and no family should have to face what they are going through. We hope that we can ease some of that back of the mind worry so they can focus on Liezl and their family with a little less burden on their minds.

Last week Liezl managed to open the van door for the first time, and got herself locked in. Though she was not in the van long, the day was hot and she eventually had to be airlifted to to the Hospital and has been in the ICU since her arrival.

Our Goal here is to help cover the huge medical costs that Liezls’ family will have to pay for all the care she is receiving so we can all see her beautiful smile again. This has been such a difficult time for her family and any kind word or donation here will help so much.

On behalf of Liezl and her family, thank you so much for taking your time to read this, donate, and send helpful, hopeful thoughts their way.

Hi Everyone! I got a message from Bethy today, so here's the update! :)

"Hey, everyone! I *know* it's been a while since I made an update. I do apologize. On the upside, I can give a good (positive), mostly, report. In the last few months, Liezl has made some *great* progress! First off, she's got a brand new wheel chair. It's lighter, but one couldn't tell much as it's fairly awkward to lift. It's handling is much improved, however, and it's harnesses fit Liezl much better. She really enjoys quick starts and stops in it, and doing donuts, and her overall tolerance for such things has improved, immensely. Liezl's range of motion and fine motor skills are much improving, too. There's still a long way to go, but she's able to better pick up small blocks or balls and push her glasses up. Cognition and understanding have vastly improved as well as sentence structure and pronunciation. Her head control is really good, now, too.
Unfortunately, Liezl is barely drinking much of anything and has all but stopped eating. We can, infrequently, get her to lick Cheetos, a sucker, or (my) ice cream, but that's about it.
All of that being said, we're still keeping our heads above water, for the time being, but only barely. We've had a *lot* of assistance from Liezl's pediatrician for support items that were denied by insurance and for the formula that's been denied by insurance. However, the formula is running out and we will need to start buying our own, sooner rather than later. We *do* appreciate all that has been given to us and are utilizing it, as much as we are able. Thanks, to everyone who's donated, shared, prayed, sent thoughts or healing, and just been there for us. <3 you all!!"

Hi Everyone! I heard from Giles this afternoon, and he asked me to pass this on,

"In the month that Liezl's been home, a lot has happened. Her perception has improved, greatly, as has her ability to communicate, specifically through speech. Liezl's words have been getting more accurate and clear. She still has a bit of trouble with immediate responses, from time to time, but she's picking up on that, too. On Friday, she started *eating* Cheetos, not just licking, but taking actual bites and chewing! Also, she holds the Cheetos *herself* and getting them to her mouth! Liezl's range of motion is getting *so* much better, too. She's able to raise things to her head and face in a more accurate action and can hold items, including a sheet of paper, for increasingly longer stretches of time. Liezl's still not weight-bearing, however, we're working on that. Her core movement is getting smoother, as well. The ability to hold her head up for longer lengths of time is improving, as is her head position. She's been to Lutheran a few times, now, and everyone has been so blown away by her ability and her voice. When we go to RIC next month, everyone is going to be surprised, too, with how much she's progressed since leaving. Liezl's still got her GI port and is receiving feedings that way, primarily, but with the consumption of food and drink improving, it's easier to see a future with her feeding herself actual food. Things at home have been settling back to normal, as well. In the van, she's messing around with Chayla, her older sister, and at home Liezl has been haranguing her Natalia, her younger sister. All in all, it's been a god-send to have her back home and to watch her heal and recover. Thank you all for your donations and time. <3 you all!!"

"LIEZL'S HOME!! Along the way, she's picked up her speech and pronunciation. She's *almost* to where she was, previous the incident. Liezl's still not welcoming food, but she's started to drink apple juice, chocolate milk and cider (not hard cider). She's becoming more aware of where her hands are and what they're touching, too. We're, also, seeing really good improvement in her hip and shoulder movements. Elbows and knees are still behind, as are wrists and ankles, but she's still making progress in those areas! We're *so* thrilled, and terrified, that Liezl's home, now. There's so much care that's required, even though she's miles beyond what we were possibly looking at. Once we get a schedule down, though, I'm sure things'll ease and settle.
Liezl slept in her own bed, last night, for the first time in months. She was really happy to be back in it, surrounded by her favorite stuffed animals (all of them) and by her sisters and a familiar locale. We laid on the floor, last night, in the living room and played "Wake Up, Dad" while Silver walked over us and Jake and the Neverland Pirates played in the background. We all watched three of the four My Little Pony: Equestria Girls movies (out of order). Rowan, Chayla, and Natalia were thrilled to have her home, as well. Natalia tried dancing with Liezl, too. A great weight has been lifted, now that Liezl's home. This is still a quite difficult path to go down, but it has become easier with the promise of what's to come, from Liezl, and the fact that our family is whole, again. <3 you all!!"

"Hey, all! I know it's been a bit since an update, but here we go. Liezl's coming home *this* Sunday!! She's made some *really* great progress. Some of her gross motor skills are really starting to emerge and we're starting to work on exercises to build some strength and stability back. One of the recent additions to her therapy schedule was aquatic, and she's LOVED it. They've been working on sensory stimuli, pushing through her legs, and a bit of 'splashing'.
Her school teacher, Barb, has been amazing with her and she's practiced her letters and numbers, weather word recognition, and basic addition and subtraction. Just yesterday they worked on her short vowel sounds, both in print and vocalizing. As for her speech, she's gotten some single and double syllable words down and is starting to work on three syllables, now, occasionally. (Like "computer". ;) ) She's still having a lot of trouble with her enunciation and her volume, but we're working on it with her.
The glasses she picked out look great and she seems to love them. Her eye sight has really improved and her eye muscle control is improving, too. That's about it for now, but things are about to change in a big way! ❤
you all!!"

Thank you all for keeping Liezl and her family in your thoughts and prayers!

Great to hear this update and to hear all about Liezl's amazing progress!!! Sorry to hear about her not eating, and minimal drinking. I hope that you all continue to be blessed with great support....my prayers and kind wishes continue for her ongoing recovery.

Great to hear this update and to hear all about Liezl's amazing progress!!! Sorry to hear about her not eating, and minimal drinking. I hope that you all continue to be blessed with great support....my prayers and kind wishes continue for her ongoing recovery.